Folding chair and the like



y 1932- J. D MATTHEWS 1,860,867

FOLDING CHAIR AND THE LIKE Filed Oct. 8, 1930 I'M EN Tale Patented May 31 1932 {UNITED STATES T NT OFFICE JOHN DURHAM MATTHEWS, F NEWQUAY, CORNWALL, ENGLAND, ASSIGNOR T0 TAY- LOB BROS. (SANDIAGRE) LIMITED, OF SANDIACRE, ENGLAND, A COMPANY OF GREAT BRITAIN FOLDING CHAIR AND THE LIKE Application filed October 8, 1930, Serial N6. 487,336, and in Great Britain November 20, 1929. I

This invention comprises improvements in folding chairs and the like an important object of the invention being to provide a chair or seat having a back rest which can be moved to difierent degrees of inclination automatically by the person occupying said chair without the necessity ofrising therefrom or manipulating any adjusting device.

Another object of the invention is to provide in a chair or the like improved means for collapsing same, and also novel means for converting same into a table or desk.

According to the present invention a folding chair or the like is provided wherein the seat is adaptedto swing or pivot to and fro in parallel planes relatively to the chair legs or supports. V a

Each side of thechair frame embodies a parallelogram of which the seat frame constitutes a pa'rt adapted to swing or' pivot relatively to the chair legs, anotherpart of the parallelogram being extended upwards,

to form a back rest frame, said frame being tilted to varied degrees ofinclination simultaneously with the movement of the seat frame.

Advantageously the front part of each parallelogram is extended downwards and provided with a foot rest, and the arrangement is such that a person occupying the seat can by applying forward pressure to the foot rest and rearward pressure to the back rest automatically swing the seat forwards and adjust the inclination of the back without rising from the seat.

Simple means are also provided for enabling the entire chair or seat to be collapsed and folded up when not in use.

For the purpose of more fully describing the nature of this invention reference will now be made to the accompanying draw ings, wherein Figure 1 illustrates in side elevation a folding chair in the erected position.

' Figure 2 illlustrates the chair when folded or collapsed.

Figure 3 is an enlarged detail view illustrating in perspective one method of connectf ing a chair leg to the chair arm so as to permit of folding thereof.

Figure 4 is a detail view illustrating in sectional side elevation a modified 'formfof foot rest. I

In one method of carrying out the invention the chair or the like is mounted upon intersecting legs 1, 2 which are pivotally con-1 nected together at the point of intersection, one pair of such legs being provided at each side of the chair. One leg l of each pair is pivoted at its upper end to a member 3a on a horizontal side arm or bar 3 a suitable dis-- tance above the seat frame 4, which side arms 3 constitute the arm rests, while the upper end of the other leg 2 is so connectedto said side arm 3 orpart thereon as to be discon nected therefrom at will for enabling the legs to be folded alongside each other at the sides when the chair is out of use.

Each upstanding side bar of the back rest frame 5 is pivoted to a plate or part 36 at the rear end of each side arm 8 and to the rear of each side of the seat frame 4 and exto which the seat frame is pivotally connected 7 at its ends. I The foot rest proper 7 is secured either pivotally or rigidly'to portions'of the afore- I said down bars 6 extending below the seat,' andthe arrangement 'issuch that if a person seated on the chair bears back upon the back rest 5 and forwardly with the feet upon the foot rest 7, the seat 4 is swung'forward horizontally and the back rest 5 is movedtoany required degree of inclinationp-f One method of releasably connecting the legsin the erectedposition is'by formingpn the underside of each horizontal sidearmfif at a position towards its front end ar ecess 8 which is preferably lined with sheet metal. 8a. into which recess the upper end of the leg 2 is adapted closely to fit; said leg being preferably capped with metal as at 2a. That part of the side arm 3 extending in front of the recess 8 is preferably of reduced depth, and beneath said reduced part is secured a piece of strip metal 9, suitably spaced parale lel with the underface of the arm 3 so, as to provide a guide-way or run-way for a pin or roller 10 extending between parallel links 1.1 by means of-which the leg 2 is connected to thearm 3. l V J V 7 When the chair is erected the upper end of leg 2 fits snugly within the recess'8. in the arm 3 as shown in Figure 1, the connecting links 11 beinghorizontal or approximately 80. When the chair is to be folded the upper end of leg 2 is released from recess 8 and the roll-eror connecting pin 10 of the link 11 traversed forwardly along the run-way .9. When in thisposition the legs 1 and 2 can be brought into a horizontal position side by side as shown'in Figure 2. a a

If desired the foot rest proper 7 may be connected to the down arms 6 therefore so that the height of said rest relatively to the arms can be adjusted; and in one such ar- 3 across the seat frame.

rangement pins or the like 15 at each end of the rest may 'coact with the teeth of ratchet plates 16 secured to the down arms, (see Figure 4 i The intersecting legsatone side of the chair are preferably connected with those at the other side bycross pieces 17, as also may be the side bars of the back frame and of 4 the foot rest.

Adyantageously a canvas sheet 18 constiut-. ing theback rest proper is attached to the top cross bar of the back frame 5 and ex tends down to and forwardly over the seat frameii and if desired to the cross bar 17 of" the foot rest'frame 6, said canvas. being of sufiicientlen'gth to permit of the, back bein tilted toany requireddegree. A piece of cor '19 or the like secured at orv near the rear-end of each sideof the seat frame 4 maybe passed transversely over this canvas 18 tohold same down, A double thickness ofcanvas may be provided on the seat, and this may be accomplished by securing a second canvas piece If desired the back frame 5. may be swung forwardly over the seatso as to, lie approximately in the plane of thearm rests 8, and vWhen sopositioned a,

suitably shaped board or. member may be fitted thereon sofas to convert the chair into atableor desk v The arm rests 3 are advantageously formed of substantial width at theirupperfparts and it will be appreciated that during the pivotal or swinging movement of the seat, back and foot rest said arms are retained stationary and can thus be "employed for supporting articles, if desired. f I l The releasable locking meansfor the chair legea e such as willpermitof thechair when erected being lifted and carried without collapsing.

What I claim is:

1. A folding chair or the like comprising in combination two pairs of intersecting foldable legs, arm rests connected with and supported by the uppe end of the. legs, f am pieces pivotally connected to the arm rests and extending below the same, a seat-portion pivotally c'onnectedtat: its ends to the said: frame pieces whereby it is adapted to 'swing to and fro relatively to said legs and arm-rest, one leg of each pair being pivotally connected with an arm rest while the remaining leg of each'pair is releas-ably connected with said arm rest, so as to. permit of-the legs being folded, a back rest adapted tobe. tilted to: varying degrees of inclination and connected with the'said frame piecesso, as to cause simultaneous movement thereof and of the seat portion with the back rest, one, arm rest, at

leas being formedwi h a esocketrlike recess, into which fits e upper end of a leg, the leg being entirely releasable from, such recess, to permit folding of the chair, andmea'ns'for gu ding and dire t ng e movements; of th end of the leg after such release, 2-, A d ng chair or the, like, such as claimed in. Qla im 1 With this addition; that the upper end of one leg'of each intersecting pair is connected by a pivoted link to, a, runway carried by an arm rest and that said link is adapted to traverse said runway.

' 3.! A i g ch r. or the like such. as a med in claim 1' with this; additilo'n thatjthe releasable leg which coacts; with the recess. in an arm. rest is combined Witha pivoted. link th t ite t e eg, it the armr st and operates o reta n he leg from omplete'disrl connection from thearm rest; f f

JOHN DURHAM MATTHEWS. 

